Capital Pets

Moving Day

2010-02-01T06:38:00.001-08:00

Hello loyal blog followers.
My blog has moved to the Times Union's website. Please continue reading here:

http://blog.timesunion.com/mohawkhudson/

Animals in Haiti

2010-01-14T13:29:00.000-08:00

One of our areas of focus at the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society is to educate people about the needs of animals in a disaster. We distribute materials about how to prepare for disaster with your pets in mind and we are active in both the Rensselaer and Albany County Animal Response Teams. Those teams are comprised of various people who have been trained to respond to disasters and assist, rescue and house pets for the duration of the event.

But what happens when the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere experiences a major earthquake just a year after being wracked by hurricanes? Haiti is a country where good people struggle under normal circumstances to take care of themselves and some reach out to help animals in need. There are not animal shelters or veterinary schools in Haiti so they have little infrastructure to help animals. Currently there are unknown thousands of people who have been left homeless, injured or dead because of this tragic event. When people are affected by disaster, it is inevitable that there will be animals in need as well.

If you are concerned about the animals of Haiti, you can help. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has been active in the region for many years and they need help.
You can see their website here which includes updates on events in Haiti...
http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/

Thank you for your help and concern.

Stephen Hunek

2010-01-13T06:55:00.001-08:00

I was very sad to learn this week that artist Stephen Huneck passed away. If you are not familiar with Mr. Huneck's work, it can be seen on the website for his dog mountain studio www.dogmt.com

I suppose his style would be classified as folk art, but I am not an expert on art or an art critic. I just know that Mr. Huneck understood the connection that we have to animals. Every piece is a simple expression of feelings like 'devotion' (the title of the piece on the coffee mug I use every day). Mr. Huneck's art is whimsical and at the same time touches deeply held feelings we have for our pets. He seemed to constantly be amused by watching his dog interact with the world and in a way that few other artists have been able to, he shared his observations and love for animals in his work.

Two years ago, Mr Huneck generously donated one of his pieces to our Art Saves Animals event. That piece (pictured here) raised over$2,000 at auction. He also allowed us to use the image in all of the promotional materials for the event, bringing more people than ever to support the Society. The piece he chose to donate provides a simple and true expression of our relationship to animals; love them and you will receive their unconditional love.

He was a caring and generous person who helped us all express our love for animals and reached out to help animals in need.

He will be missed.

...But Cats are America's #1 Pet

2010-01-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

A recent associated press-petside.com poll found that respondents has a strong preference for cats over dogs.

The poll found:

3 out of 4 adults (74%) said they like dogs a lot
2 out of 5 respondents (41%) said they like cats a lot
4 percent of adults said they dislike dogs "a little" or "a lot"
more than 1-in-4 (26%) said they dislike cats "a little" or "a lot."

Of all the groups that answered, married men were the most likely to say they dislike cats.

Why such a stark difference between our top two most loved family pets? Other recent studies show that cats are actually the most popular pet in the country. While there are more dog owning households, it is more likely that a household with cats will have multiple cats.

Many people who have never lived with cats, or had a close relationship with them may believe that cats are aloof and don't desire or require human attention. My cats would beg to differ. While cats interact differently than dogs, they desire human companionship and love as much as any other companion animal and depend on humans for care.

The difference in society's perceptions of cats is reflected in our animal shelter. Over 65% of the animals brought into the Humane Society are cats and our local experience reflects a national trend. Even cat lovers seem to perceive their pets differently than dogs. Cats visit the veterinarians office about half as much as dogs resulting in cats missing out on their annual preventative health screenings. Surprisingly, while cat ownership has been rising over the past several years, the number of cats visiting veterinary offices has declined.

Don't loose hope cat lovers, there are many out there just like you. Animal Shelters and other groups have recognized the feline's image problem and have come together to work on it. Out of this effort the CATalyst council was created. Their website can be found at http://www.catalystcouncil.org/

The goal of this group is to educate the public about the true nature of cats, their need for human companionship and care, and the wonderful companions they can be. At the Humane Society, we have promoted the importance of cats in our lives with our annual Feline Fest. Every year we celebrate the importance of cats in our lives and try to find new homes for homeless cats.

What is your experience with cats and how do you feel about the poll?

The coldest day of winter

2009-12-17T12:05:00.001-08:00

I have a wireless thermometer at my house that tells me the temperature outside from the comfort of my living room. This time of year I always take a look at it before I go out to walk my dog, Buster. This morning the digital readout said '12'. Yes, only 12 degrees, not the number that I was hoping for, but to be expected this time of year.
Buster and I bundled up and got ready for the morning cold and wind of the capital region. Of course one of the first things that Buster did was roll around on the snow while I just hoped he would keep moving on our regular morning walk.
While we walked on a path near my home Buster romped in the snow and seemed happy to be out even in the cold weather, but it made me think about the dogs, that don't get to spend most of their day on a warm couch by the radiator as Buster spends his. There are far too many dogs outside in this weather with little shelter or warmth. So i just wanted to give everyone a reminder to keep your pets safe this year...
Keep your dogs and cats away from anti-freeze : In the winter, car owners break out the anti-freeze to ensure that their vehicles start. Cats and dogs are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of anti-freeze, but it is deadly, even in small amounts. Keep a close eye on dogs and cats when they are outside and never permit them to lick anything off the street or driveway. An animal poisoned by anti-freeze may appear to be intoxicated, having trouble with balance and coordination. If you suspect your pet has ingested anti-freeze, don’t watch and wait. Take it to the vet or animal hospital immediately. Kidney failure can set in within 24 hours.

2.Limit Exposure to Cold: Dogs and cats build up winter coats over time. If your pet spends most of the time indoors, it may not have had a chance to develop a thicker coat. Let your pet develop a tolerance to the cold slowly by limiting outdoor time at the beginning of the season.

3. Streets and Sidewalks Can Irritate Paws: Once the snow begins to fall, city streets and sidewalks are often coated in salt and sand that can irritate dogs’ paws. After walks, wipe paws clean with warm water to prevent dogs from licking and ingesting salt and chemicals.

4. Your Dog May Need a Winter Coat: Small dogs and dogs with short hair can develop hypothermia in extremely cold weather. When outside for extended periods of time, make sure your dog wears a coat or protective covering. If you live in a city, you’ll know that dog coats come in all shapes, sizes and styles to express your dog’s unique personality.

5. That Goes for Boots, Too: If your dog lifts its paws and whines during walks, the pavement may be making its paws uncomfortably cold. Many companies sell dog boots in various sizes and styles. Outfitting your dog with boots will also prevent paw irritation from salt and sand.

6.Keep Cats Inside: If possible, keep cats indoors during winter months. Cats can be frostbitten on their paws and ears in very cold weather. They may also crawl under the hoods of cars for warmth, a potentially deadly situation. Given the additional risk of anti-freeze poisoning, it’s best to keep them indoors until warmer months.

7. Be Careful About Foods and Decoration: Many traditions can pose a risk to pets. Even if they beg, don’t give them bones. They can splinter in the digestive tract. Chocolate is never appropriate to give to a pet; it can be poisonous, especially to small animals. Common winter plants such as mistletoe and holly berries are dangerous if ingested and can lead to gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems.

8.Keep Dogs on the Leash: Don’t let dogs off the leash during snowstorms. They may want to play, but can easily lose their scent and become lost in the snow. This is one of the reasons why more dogs are lost in the winter than any other time. Make sure dogs are wearing ID tags before you take them out in the snow. Getting a microchip for your pet is another great way to get them back if lost. You can get your pet chipped at the Humane Society for only $25..

9. Never Leave Pets Alone in a Car: Pets can freeze to death in very cold weather. The enclosed space of a car will not maintain sufficient heat to protect them from the cold. Leave them at home or bring them with you on your errands.

10.Move Beds and Dishes Away from Drafts: Notice whether your home has drafty areas and move pet beds and dishes away from them. The floor can be very cold, even in a warm house. If your pet does not share your bed, make sure it has a bed or cushion to sleep on to protect it from the cold.

So enjoy the holiday season and the beauty that snowy weather brings, but just use a little caution with your furry friends.

Going Home for the Holidays

2009-12-01T05:54:00.000-08:00

This is a time of year when millions of people are going home to spend time with their families and we are hoping that the homeless animals at the Humane Society will all have a home to go to by the end of the year.
Our special Cats-giving adoption promotion led to 46 cats finding new homes, but there are hundreds more who still want to be with new families for the holiday season. That's why the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society is holding our countdown to 2010.

Every day in December there will be a different adoption promotion with the goal of all animals having a home before the new year. Our countdown starts December 1st with free microchips for every animal adopted today! Keep an eye on our facebook group and twitter feed for the daily special and check the adoption section of our website for animals in need of families.

CATS-Giving

2009-11-20T12:34:00.000-08:00

The Humane Society currently has over 250 cats in our care. Some of those cats are in foster care waiting for space to open up in the shelter. This time of year many people are focused on holiday shopping and preparing for family to come visit. What better time to add a new family member for everyone to meet?
The Society is celebrating Cats-giving by reducing all cat adoption fees by half until Thanksgiving day.
Give homeless cats something to be thankful for this year and come adopt a new pet for the holidays.

Kat-ober Fest

2009-10-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Lali is a little gray and white cat who has been at the Humane Society for almost a month now looking for a new home after being found on the street in Troy. Lali is slight of build, quiet and gentle. She loves to get attention and would be perfect in a home where she can sit quietly. She sounds like the perfect cat to me who would fit in just about any home. So why is she still here?

It may be that Lali is over 8 years old. Many people looking for a pet want the youngest they can find, often a kitten or puppy. Even when families are looking for calm, child friendly pet they often do not consider older animals. It is terribly unfortunate that such wonderful older animals are often overlooked. That's why, when we get pets Lali's age, we reduce their adoption fee to only $25 in hopes that older people with limited incomes will find their match in an older cat.

Right now, the Humane Society is filled with cats of all ages, including many kittens. When we have so many young kittens it is even more challenging to find homes for older cats.

In order to get as many cats adopted as possible, the Humane Society is holding "Kat-ober Fest" Cat adoption prices have been cut in half through Sunday November 1st. Our hope is that Lali and all of her fellow felines will find new homes this weekend.

Black Cats

2009-10-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Black cats and dogs can be the most difficult to find homes for even though they are often great pets (I have a black dog myself). There are many stories of black cats being used in satanic rituals or otherwise abused around the Halloween season yet there is no evidence that animal cruelty increases during this time of year. Certainly there are stories of acts of cruelty in October, as unfortunately there are cases of animal cruelty all year long. Unfortunately, the urban legends around these rituals have lead many animal shelters and rescues to stop trying to find homes for black cats during the last couple of weeks of October. I think these policies do a disservice to black cats.
The Humane Society of the United States commissioned a review of newspapers across the country published around Halloween going back over 10 years and found no increase of cruelty cases during this time of year. You may remember a sudden increase in animal cruelty cases involving cats last summer in Troy. These cases involve people who are sick and depraved, not performing satanic rituals.
Those acts that appear to be satanic rituals are usually young people imitating what they think rituals would be like, often using symbols they have seen in the movies. In all likelihood, these people will pick up a cat off the street (where there are many) rather than come to an animal shelter where they will be screened, have their ID copied and will pay an adoption fee. Cats of any color that are allowed to roam outdoors are in the greatest danger during the fall as they are all year long.
At the Humane Society will continue to seek loving homes for cats of every color during this time of year because black cats deserve to be in homes, just like all of the others.

2009-09-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

I spent last weekend in Vermont with my family and my dog, Buster. We went out to dinner one night and my father ordered steak. At the end of the meal he asked the server to box up the fat from the steak that he had cut off so he could bring it home to the dog. The server was shocked and refused to pack up a doggie bag for the leftover that I am sure Buster would have appreciated. She explained that fat is not good for dogs, just like it is not good for us! We are an easy going bunch and big animal lovers so we all got a kick out of her response. Personally I appreciated her concern for our dog and the story she then told about her own dog. She found out pretty quick that she was talking to the right crowd.
The experience reminded me of the talk that Jon Katz gave at our recent Dog Days of Summer event. He talked about his new book Soul of a Dog which explores the question of whether dogs have souls. As part of the process he looked at our history with dogs and noted that we didn't have prepackaged pet food until the 60's. Pets ate what we did, usually the leftover table scraps. In that relatively short period of time, our relationship with our pets has truly transformed. Many of us think more about what we feed our pets than what we feed ourselves. In the past few years there has been huge growth in natural and organic pet food sales and people have come to realize that their pet's nutrition affects their lives just like ours. (On this same trip we bought some Wagatha's dog biscuits - made in Vermont they are vegetarian, organic and kosher - and yes Buster loves them).
How and why did this transformation happen? I recommend reading Jon Katz's book for more on that subject. I think that as a society we have really embraced the relationship that we have with animals. We continue to learn that animals think and feel more deeply than we ever imagined in the past and our connection to them continues to grow stronger.
Would Buster have been happy if he had gotten a big hunk of steak fat when we got home? You Bet! But mostly he just seemed happy that we were home and rubbing his belly.

Careful, July 4th is almost here

2009-06-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

As a kid July 4th was always one of my favorite holidays. And why wouldn't it be? What could be better for a young boy than big colorful explosions in the sky? Luckily for us, our dog never seemed bothered by the loud percussive explosions, but he may have been the exception.

Many people don't realize that more pets will get loose during the July 4th weekend than any other time of the year because they are afraid of the loud noise of fireworks. Fireworks and loud noises may cause pets to panic, become excited, destructive, and frequently run away from home in fear.

As we all know, fireworks are often set off days before and after the 4^th of July so it is important to consider your pet’s safety now. Last year a dog in Albany ran away from home when fireworks went off in the neighborhood and the dog was hit by a car. Please don’t let your pet be next.

Here are a few tips for your pets on 4th of July:

Never leave your pet in a car unattended

Keep your pet indoors in a quite secure place

Don't take your pet to the fireworks events

For pets with severe anxiety talk to your vet, they may recommend sedatives or herbal remedies

Make sure that you have a current pet id tag and make sure your microchip information is up to date

Provide plenty of fresh clean, water as pets may pant excessively when afraid

Leave a radio on with classical music or a talk radio station. Avoid loud or percussive music.

Do not leave your pet outside. They may become so afraid that they will escape even though they may never have tried before.

Do not leave your pet tied or chained up. When pets are afraid, they may try to escape from the chain and either injure themselves or pull the chain loose.

If your pet is missing check immediately with your local dog control officer and animal shelter.

In order to help reunite pets with their families this year, the Humane Society is offering microchips for only $15 on Thursday July 2^nd and Friday July 3^rd from 10am to 4pm. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted by a veterinarian between your pet’s shoulder blades. The chip then serves as a permanent identification for your pet. Even if they loose their collar, shelters and veterinarians will be able to scan the chip and return your pet too you. All dogs coming in for microchips must be on a leash. Cats must be in a carrier.

Volunteer!

2009-06-19T09:16:00.001-07:00

On Monday, our new Volunteer Manager, Jennifer Haraburda, started working for the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. We are very excited that Jennifer has joined our team. Jennifer brings great energy and expertise to her new position with a history of running the volunteer program at the Animal Protective Foundation.
You may wonder what Jennifer will be working on, why the new volunteer manager? In the past volunteers were managed by another staff member who had a host of other responsibilities. While our number of volunteers and their programs grew it became clear that this was not a part time job. By shifting around some job responsibilities, we were able add this new full time position without adding any expenses.

Volunteers are essential to our success. Every minute that a volunteer dedicates to the Society helps to save another animal's life. Really? You ask... Yes really. Let's just take one program, our foster care volunteers. Last year over 950 animals were cared for in volunteer foster homes. Most of those animals were kittens that were too young to be adopted, but there were also many animals that were recovering from illness or injuries. It is extremely difficult to care for animals like these in the shelter so without volunteers those animals may not have survived.

Our two satellite adoption centers are 100% volunteer staffed. 7 days a week, 365 days a year, animals in the Petsmarts in Latham and Glenmont are cared for by volunteers. It takes about 45 volunteers at each site to keep those centers running and keep adoptions going. Last year over 550 animals were adopted from the two satelite adoption centers. Those adoptions would not have been possible without volunteers.

The list goes on endlessly, volunteers hlep to feed animals, clean kennels, excersie dogs, care for cats, rabbits and other animals. Our volunteers often spend weekends at community events promoting the society and letting people know about our programs. They stuff envelopes, do office work, serve on our board, repair our plumbing, and so much more.

So if you have some time on your hands, come by and meet Jennifer, or check our website for the latest volunteer opportunites

Honored K9's

2009-05-18T07:15:00.001-07:00

On Saturday I had the pleasure and honor of attending the Capital District Police K-9 Training Group's annual ceremony at the Law Enforcement K-9 Memorial. The Memorial is on the grounds of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society and was established in 1999 to honor the dogs who had dedicated their lives to protecting all of us. Three K-9's were honored on Saturday and added to the dozens already in the memorial.
Some dogs are detection specialists, finding accelerants, explosives or narcotics while others are trained in tracking, detection, evidence recovery, criminal detection and apprehension, and officer protection.
While training and working the dogs live with their partners (or handlers) and stay with those partners when the dogs are ready to retire. The dogs maintain a loving and stable home life after their important days of work are done. The dogs are considered officers by their departments and are treated with the great respect that they deserve.

Next time you are at the Humane Society take a moment to stop at the beginning of our driveway by the two flags you will see flying. Take a look at the memories of the animals that have spent their lives protecting us all.

Should I buy that license plate?

2009-05-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

For several years the State of New York has had money set aside for the Animal Population Control Fund. The fund is managed by the Agriculture and Markets Department. People on public assistance could apply to the department for a voucher which could be taken to a limited number of veterinarians who would perform the surgery for a $20 co-pay.
Last year, the governor 'swept' $1 million out of that fund (meaning that the governor took it for the general fund and it will never come back). The money comes from several sources including dog license fees, unused spay/neuter deposits from shelters and sales of special license plates that support spay/neuter.
Now the Agriculture and Markets Department has announced that they are running low on funds. If the current trend of shrinking reserves continues, they are predicting that by October several counties will no longer have a program available to them. The program has a provision to give priority to counties where the most money is coming from when funds get low.
The fund currently has just under $500,000 in reserves. If the governor had left the money where it belonged and used it for what was promised, essential spay and neuter services would still be available throughout the state. Unfortunately now, less than half the state will have these services available to low income people. This is a sad and unnecessary state of affairs. The money that was designated for the fund, should have stayed there.
So, should you pay $20 extra every year to have a spay/neuter license plate? The DMV's website says that the money goes to the animal population control fund, and it does until the governor decides to take it away. I would love to be able to recommend that everyone proudly display their support of the spay/neuter fund on their cars, but the promise of where the money will go, may not be kept by New York State.

What to do about Mike

2009-04-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

The big news of the day in the Capital Region is that the Albany Firebirds have offered Michael Vick a contract with the provision that Vick give $100,000 to the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. At first blush it sounds great for the Society to receive a huge influx of money to support our programs and save more animals' lives, but at what cost?
I believe in redemption. I know that people can change and be better people. I don't believe that you make change by paying someone else any amount of money. Vick has already paid almost a million dollars for the care of the dogs that survived his dog fighting ring. I don't think that anyone would say that changed him as a person. Did going to prison change him? I suppose it might have, but we really don't know.
Rather than money, I would like to see Michael Vick become a member of the Capital Region community who works to prevent animal cruelty and put a stop to dog fighting. I think that his time and proper use of his fame will be a much better indicator of a change in attitude than writing a check, even if it is to a worthy cause.

I would love to know your opinions on this issue. Please click on comments below and let me know what you think.

Ping and another great gala

2009-04-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Friday night was our second annual Around the World for 80 Strays Gala. There was a huge turnout with almost 300 animal lovers coming together at Wolferts Roost to support the Humane Society. Our Emcee, Anya Tucker from Channel 10 News, did a wonderful job keeping the night going and our Auctioneer, Jamie Roberts from 810 WGY's Pet Talk had hands flying up in the air during our live auction.

One of my favorite things about this year was that we had pictures on every table of animals that had been adopted or were available for adoption from the Humane Society. When you first walked into the dining room there was a sea of furry faces looking back at you.

The pictures had all been taken at Picture People in Crossgates Mall over the last several weeks. One of the pictures was of a very special cat named 'Ping'. Ping was brought here with 5 other cats because their family lost their home. Ping is a big beautiful cat, but for some reason all of the other cats in his family have already been adopted. Ping is still waiting.

So the night was fun and everyone had a great time, but Ping is still here on Monday, hopefully he will find a home soon.

Going Around the World!

2009-04-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

This Friday night is our second annual Around the World for 80 Strays gala at Wolferts Roost Country club. I am very excited about this year's event. We have plans that will make this a great night for animal lovers in the capital region. Our honorary chair is Bocker the Labradoodle. You can see his website at www.bocker.tv Bocker will be at the gala to meet our guests and congratulate the winners of this year's Humane Awards.

Channel 10's Anya Tucker will be our M.C. and Jamie Roberts, host of 810 WGY's Pet Talk, will be our auctioneer.

We will have some fantastic items up for auction this year including a basketball signed by the entire Siena basketball team and the coach, three baseballs signed by some of the Yankees best pitchers of all time, a fabulous Saratoga get away and of course, the cover of our 2010 cutest pet calendar will be auctioned off.
Please join us for fun, music and dancing at the capital region's number one animal gala!

You can purchase tickets now just click here

Watch Out for the Heat

2009-04-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

It can be hard to stay inside this time of year when the weather is warming up and the flowers start blooming. We all like to get outside and if you're like me, you like to bring your dog with you everywhere you can.
One of the great things about having a dog is the fun that you can have taking them for long walks, and hikes or just to play at the dog park. The warm days also make me think of something else though, all the dogs that I have seen locked in cars during the summer. Years ago, I was an animal control officer and cruelty investigator. I can't tell you how many times I was called to a parking lot where someone had left their dog locked in a car. The windows were usually cracked a little, but that doesn't really help. I had to remove many dogs from cars and rush them to the veterinarian to treat heatstroke. If they hadn't been removed they could have suffered brain damage or death.
Cars work like greenhouses, all windows letting in the heat from the sun and surfaces that retain the heat. It can take just a few minutes for the temperature in your car to rise to 20 degrees or hotter than the outside air, which can be fatal for your pet.
Dogs do not have sweat glands to cool them like we do. They cool themselves by panting, which is intended to bring cooler air and water into their bodies. The problem in the car is that the air continually gets hotter and there is no way for dogs to cool off.
If you're like me, when summer comes the first thing that you do when you get in your car is roll down a window because the heat inside is stifling. Imagine if you had to sit in there for just 15 minutes while someone runs into a store. That's what many dogs experience all summer long and its not something that I would want happening to me.

So do the right thing for your pets this summer. Leave them home when you have to make stops or go shopping. By leaving them in the car, you may be risking their lives.

A wonderful weekend

2009-04-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

It was a happy Easter for the animals at the Humane Society. 22 of the 55 dogs that came from a breeder in Hoosick have been adopted since Friday. Each day, there were lines of people outside our door waiting for us to open so that they could give these little dogs a better life.
It wasn't just those dogs that were adopted though, 13 other dogs and 14 cats were also adopted. Those animals were the stray and abandoned dogs that we get every day, but thanks to a caring community they all have homes.
More of the dogs and cats that came from the breeder's home will continue to become available over the next couple of months. Some of the puppies are so young that they are still nursing from their mothers. In the mean time there are many more animals in need of homes every day, so please tell your friends to check our site for their new best friend.

Little Dogs, Big Day

2009-04-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

People were already lining up at 8:00am this morning to adopt the dogs that were on the news yesterday. By the time we opened at 10:00am there was a huge crowd. We started handing out numbers to everyone who had lined up and began introducing them to the dogs that were available today. Only 15 dogs and puppies out of the 55 that we took in were ready to go. The rest still need veterinary care or to be spayed or neutered. All of the dogs that were available today were adopted, but more will be ready tomorrow so we hope to find homes for all of them.
There are also 4 litters of puppies still nursing from their mothers. Those puppies will need about 6-8 weeks in foster care before they are ready to go. Our staff and volunteers have been running non-stop for two days to get these little guys ready and cared for.
A special thanks to Chiloe from the Animal House for coming in early this morning to groom some of the dogs that were in desperate need of a little TLC.

Hoosick Breeder Closes Her Doors

2009-04-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

We are having an especially busy couple of days here at the Humane Society. A tip was called in to State Police that a woman living in a single wide trailer was selling puppies that were too young to be separated from their mothers. The State Police called us for help. When they called, the Police believed that there were over 20 dogs and ten cats in the home. When Humane Society investigators and staff arrived at home, there was still a sign outside offering puppies for sale.

The owner turned over 55 dogs and puppies- including 4 mothers nursing litters -and 14 cats. The dogs include Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds and others. It took most of the day to catch them all, identify them and get them back to the Humane Society’s Animal Center in Menands. They have all been examined and treated by the our Veterinarian and some will be spayed and neutered today and tomorrow.

The dogs and cats are in varying degrees of health, but seem to be social and friendly. Some of the animals may be available for adoption as early as Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. The younger puppies will need weeks in one of our volunteer foster homes before they can be adopted. All of these animals are really putting a strain on our space and resources so we are hoping to do a lot of adoptions this weekend.

We don’t know how many dogs have been sold by this woman over the years, but now at least one supply of puppies in the area has been closed, hopefully if we can get more breeders to close, we can start to control the problem of pet overpopulation .

Beanie Babies, Not Bunnies

2009-04-07T05:38:00.000-07:00

These are just two of the Rabbits at the Humane Society need homes, and will be spayed or neutered before leaving.

Every year, people around the country go out and buy baby bunnies and chicks for Easter. Sometimes the little babies are dyed pastel colors for the season. They are often impulse purchases for excited children who may think that these babies are the most exciting things they have ever seen, so mom and dad give in and bring one home. But then what happens?
Baby chicks become chickens and little baby bunnies become full grown rabbits. Most people don't have an appropriate place to keep a chicken and they often wind up abandoned or given up to farm rescues right away.
Many people make a go of keeping the rabbits they have purchased, but children may soon lose interest and parents come up against the reality of how much care a rabbit really needs. In just a few months, people who bought more than one bunny may find out that they start reproducing at a very young age (yes that reputation is well earned). Soon there may be many bunnies, more than anyone planned for.
So, after a few months of good efforts, the rabbit ends up at the Humane Society, or maybe at a rabbit rescue like the rabbit resource http://www.therabbitresource.org/. We are preparing for an influx of these baby bunnies, but we are really hoping that people will forgo their Easter baby bunny and chick purchase to begin with.
To discourage the purchase of live bunnies and chicks, the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society will give away a free beanie baby to any child who comes in and pledges that they will not get a baby bunny or chick this Easter. The give away starts today and will continue through Easter or while supplies last.
Let's choose stuffed toys this year, not live animals.

The Bobble Head has been chosen

2009-04-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Bubba the Akita and I just got back from a press conference at the Holiday Inn Express downtown to announce the winner of the Valley Cat's weatherman bobble head contest. I am happy to say that Steve Caporizzo from WTEN won the voting so a bobble head of Steve will be produced and given away this summer.
Steve was competing against 3 other Capital Region weathermen for the honor of having bobble head made in his image. Voters could go online and pick their favorite. Each weatherman chose a their favorite charity and Steve chose us! That means that the Vally Cats gave us $500 plus tickets that we can sell as a fundraiser to a Valley Cats on August 12th. The contest was sponsored by the Holiday Inn Express. The bobble heads will be given out at the Valley Cats game on August 22nd.
At the press conference Steve Caporizzo surprised everyone when he announced that The Pet Connection was going to give an additional $1,000 to the Humane Society to support our programs. As if that wasn't enough, Steve and the Pet Connection are going to purchase an additional 500 bobble heads to sell as a fundraiser for homeless animals.
The event was a lot of fun. One of our orphaned dogs, Bubba, was there and did a great job. Everyone loved him and he showed off how well he sits and shakes hands (with both paws). Hoprefully in addition to all of the great support we've gotten, Bubba will find a home.

Radio Day

2009-04-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

I had another great show this morning with Jamie Roberts on 810 WGY's Pet Talk. Jamie is a big animal lover and does a great job on the show. Today we mostly talked about the shelter's need for volunteer foster parents. Spring is upon us and kittens are being born. This means that we need people to open their homes to kittens so that they can grow old enough to be adopted. Almost 1,000 animals went through our foster program last year and we hope to find even more foster homes this year.

Today was also the second day of Paws for a Cause at the empire state plaza. I really love going to this event every year. The plaza is filled with animal lovers of all kind. There is an incredible diversity of non-profit groups, animal service businesses and veterinarians all taking different approaches to help animals. The speakers range from vets talking about the latest in stem cell treatments to a trainer who dances with her dogs. It is great fun and I love standing at our booth and just chatting with everyone who stops by. I'm already looking forward to this event next year.

Welcome

2009-04-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, and welcome to the official blog of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. This month marks my second full year as Executive Director of the Society and I thought that it was about time to share up to date information about the Society online.

This blog will be a place where you can come and learn about the latest happenings at the Society, news about animals in our community and tips about animal care. I will have friends, volunteers and other Society staff guest blogging from time to time as well so that you can learn directly from their expertise.

Today I spent most of the day at Paws for a Cause in the Empire State Plaza. It was great to see all of the different vendors, animal protection groups, and veterinarians out together educating the public about animal care.
My favorite presentation of the day had to be the dancing Corgis. Really, they dance.

Paws for a Cause continues tomorrow and the Purina Dog Team will be there for several performances throughout the day.
I will be on 810 WGY's Pet Talk tomorrow from 11am to noon along with other guests talking about animals and animal health. Please listen in.

That's it for the first post, please check back often for news and updates.